Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF)
About
- The Victorian Government (the State) has introduced the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund (ESVF). From 1 July 2025, the Fire Services Property Levy (FSPL) will be replaced by the ESVF.
- Cardinia Shire Council is legislated under the Fire Services Property Amendment (Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund) Act 2025 to collect these fees on behalf of the Victorian Government. This means, we must include this levy on the rates notices and pay the fees to the Victorian Government, otherwise we would be in breach of the law.
- As this is a new levy managed by the Victorian Government, there may be changes from what you have seen on previous notices for the FSPL.
- For more information about the ESVF and your rates, you can read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on this page.
- For the latest information, we encourage you to visit the Victorian Government's Department of Treasury and Finance website or read the Victorian Government's ESVF Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 243KB).
Changes from Fire Services Property Levy (FSPL) to Emergency Services Volunteers Fund (ESVF)
The ESVF will be rolled out over two years:
- 1 July 2025 – Increase in charges and volunteer exemptions introduced
- 1 July 2026 – Principal place of Residence (PPR) vs Non-PPR Residential charges introduced
The Victorian Government has expanded the previous funding of the FSPL to include the following services:
- Country Fire Authority (CFA)
- Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV)
- Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES)
- Triple Zero Victoria
- State Control Centre
- Forest Fire Management Victoria
- Emergency Recovery Victoria
As well as:
- Life-saving equipment and vehicles
- Training for volunteers
- Community education
- Disaster recovery support
- A rolling fleet replacement program for CFA and VICSES
Due to this, the Victorian Government has increased majority of the variable and fixed rates used to calculate each properties annual contribution to ensure adequate funding is available.
From 1 July 2026, a new category will be created for residential Primary Place Residency (PPR), and non-PPR residential properties will incur the non-residential fixed charge.
At this stage, we don't know what those levy amounts will be, however the Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) have advised Non PPR properties will incur the higher fixed charge.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Who is required to contribute to the ESVF?
- What happens if I don’t pay?
- Why hasn’t Council boycotted the levy?
- How is the ESVF charged?
- Can I object to the levy?
- What if I cannot pay the ESVF?
Who is required to contribute to the ESVF?
Like the FSPL, all property owners are required to contribute.
Where a payment is made that is less than the total amount owing for rates, charges and the levy on a notice, Council must allocate that payment in equal proportions to Council rates and charges and the levy – even if the ratepayer has expressly indicated they do not wish to pay any part of the levy.
What happens if I don’t pay?
Ratepayers do not have the option to choose which charges they wish to pay on their rates notice.
Council is responsible for collecting the levy on behalf of the State Government, and this charge will appear on ratepayers’ rates notices for the 2025–26 year.
While this levy will be collected by Council on behalf of the State Government, we remind our community that this is not a Council charge.
Even though State Government charges and Council charges are listed separately on our rates notices, payments made to Council are allocated equally across all charges, regardless of whether they are State or Council charges.
If fees are left outstanding on your rates notice – whether it be for the ESVF or for other rates or charges – you may be liable for penalty interest and possible debt recovery action under Local Government Act 1989 and the Fire Services Property Amendment (Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund) Act 2025 .
Why hasn’t Council boycotted the levy?
Council is legislated under the Fire Services Property Amendment (Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund) Act 2025 to collect these fees on behalf of the State Government. If Council did not include this on the rates notices or pay the fees to the State, we would be in breach of the law.
Councils are obliged to collect the levy, and we are not permitted to issue a separate invoice for the levy. Therefore, Council must proportionately allocate amount paid by ratepayers to all rates and charges, including the ESVF.
Council is concerned about the impact of the ESVF on our community, especially local farmers, and continues to join collective advocacy across the sector to highlight Council’s concerns.
At the MAV State Council in May, Council submitted a motion calling for the MAV to note the significant impact on local government and the community, particularly on primary production properties such as farms.
How is the ESVF charged?
Like the FSPL, the ESVF will be calculated based on a fixed charge that varies by property type, and a variable charge based on property value.
The main key changes include:
- Variable and fixed rates will increase for the expansion of funding to include other emergency services in addition to the existing Fire Rescue Victoria and Country Fire Authority (CFA).
- CFA and Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) volunteers will be exempt from ESVF on their principal place of residence (PPR).
- The vacant land category will be abolished, with vacant land being allocated to its corresponding land use sector.
Can I object to the levy?
While a ratepayer cannot object to the levy itself you may object to the following:
Australian Valuation Property Classification Code (AVPCC) Land Use code – this code determines the category that you pay, for example you can contend that your property is not primary production and should be residential.
Valuation – The Capital Improved Valuation that is applied to a property determines the variable component of the ESVF. If you disagree with your valuation and are successful in objecting to its value, your rates and ESVF will decrease accordingly.
Find out more about the Australian Valuation Property Classification Code and process
What if I cannot pay the ESVF?
Residents experiencing financial hardship, or who anticipate they may have difficulty paying their rates, charges and the levy, are encouraged to contact Council to discuss their options. You can Request a rates payment plan or apply for financial hardship online or by calling Customer Support on 1300 787 624.
Provisions regarding payment plans, deferrals, waivers and concessions have not changed with the new legislation and Council cannot enter into a Plan or Agreement where ratepayers wish to remove the ESVF component of the total rates bill.
We also remind ratepayers that a new Volunteer Rebate for eligible CFA and VicSES volunteers has been introduced as well as a partial rebate for eligible farmers who are drought affected.
The Victorian Government is administering the exemption for volunteers. Council cannot accept any applications for volunteer exemption.
The following volunteers will be eligible to apply for a rebate:
- Active emergency service volunteers (CFA and VICSES)
- CFA and VicSES Life members
- CFA and VicSES members who have served for 12 months
- CFA and VicSES members who have passed probation
- CFA and VicSES members who have not been suspended on disciplinary grounds or taken a leave of absence for the entire duration of the preceding 12 months.
For eligible pensioners and Department of Veteran Affairs card holders, a rebate will still be applied to the ESVF for $50. Pensioners already receiving the rebate do not need to reapply.